Articulated bracelet including decorative links threaded onto a chain
The linked bracelet, in particular for a watch, comprises a metal hinged chain passing through a series of ornamental tubular links ( 4 ) made of ceramic material, each ornamental link ( 4 ) having at least one longitudinal passage ( 20 ), in which a metal link and a hinge associated with it are housed and can rest against an inside surface ( 26 ) of the base ( 27 ) of the ornamental link in the region of the hinge, when the hinge is in a folded position. A front face ( 23 ) of each ornamental link ( 4 ) has at least one raised section ( 34 ) located in the same region of the width of the ornamental link as said inside surface ( 26 ) where the hinge or the metal link rests, this raised section being arranged to abut against the opposite front face ( 24 ) of the adjacent ornamental link when the hinge is in said folded position. This arrangement balances the vertical force (F) exerted by the chain on the base ( 27 ) of the ornamental link at the right place and thus prevents any risk of fracture by transverse bending.
1. A linked bracelet comprising a linked chain composed of metal links joined by associated hinges and a series of ornamental links of tubular shape being mounted onto said chain, said tubular shape including a lower wall and an upper wall, each ornamental link having at least one longitudinal passage which extends in an axial direction between two end faces of the ornamental link and in which one of said metal links and an associated hinge are housed such that either said hinge or a portion of the metal link can rest against at least one inside surface of said lower wall when the hinge is in a folded position, respective opposite end faces of adjacent ones of the ornamental links being able to rest against each other,
wherein at least one end of said lower wall of each ornamental link, forming a lower section of one of said end faces, has at least one raised section located in vertical alignment with said inside surface, said raised section being arranged to abut against the opposite end face of the adjacent ornamental link when the hinge is in said folded position.
2. The bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the lower section of said one end face is inclined towards the other end face of the ornamental link in relation to a plane perpendicular to said axial direction.
3. The bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the ornamental link comprises a space associated with said at least one passage and arranged to receive the hinge.
4. The bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein two similar raised sections are juxtaposed laterally on the lower section of said one end face.
5. The bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein a lower section of said opposite end face is essentially flat.
6. The bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the ornamental links are made of ceramic material.
7. A tubular ornamental link made of ceramic material for a bracelet, having a lower wall, an upper wall and a longitudinal passage that extend in an axial direction between two end faces of the ornamental link, said longitudinal passage being arranged for housing a flexible or linked connection of the bracelet, said flexible or linked connection being able to rest onto at least one inside surface of said lower wall within said longitudinal passage,
wherein at least one end of said lower wall, forming a lower section of one of said end faces, has at least one raised section located in vertical alignment with said inside surface, said lower section of said end face being inclined towards the other end face of the ornamental link in relation to a plane perpendicular to said axial direction.
8. The tubular ornamental link of claim 7 , wherein a lower section of the other end face is essentially flat.